Disintegrator pump



D. G- PETERSON DISINTEGRATOR PUMP Filed Jan.

June 13, 1967 INVENTOR. David 6. Pa farson A GENT United States Patent 3,325,107 DISINTEGRATOR PUMP David G. Peterson, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Ultra, 1136., Hutchinson, Kane, a corporation of Kansas Filed Jan. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 338,155 2 Claims. (Cl. 241101) This invention relates to improvements in pumping apparatus and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a disintegrator pump for liquefying solid matter, such as waste products, or the like, for facilitating the draining or discharging thereof.

The utilization of portable living quarter of the type designed to be carried or towed across the countryside, such as house trailers, camping trailers, and the like, has increased greatly throughout this country. As a result, many people are now using these structures not only for residential living, but also for travel or vacation living. These portable housing units are usually provided with the standard modern conveniences normally found in more permanent type housing or living structures, such as kitchen sinks, water closets, and the like. However, since the portable units are frequently located in out of the way places, or in transit, the disposal of waste products, and the like, has become an increasing problem. Many of the trailers are provided with devices known as holding tanks wherein waste products and materials may be retained or stored for somewhat prolonged periods of time, thus providing some alleviation of the problem, but these holding tanks must be periodically drained. In an attempt to solve this problem, many service stations, and the like, located throughout the country have installed dumping tanks for receiving the contents of these holding tanks. However, it will be apparent that the draining of the holding tanks into the dumping tanks creates many problems.

The present invention contemplates a novel disintegrator pump particularly designed and constructed for receiving the solid or substantially solid matter from a holding tank, orthe like, whereby the matter is liquefied in order to facilitate the draining of the tank or discharge of the contents thereof. The novel pumping apparatus comprises a liquefier cup portion which may be secured directly to the holding tank for receiving the contents thereof. The matter directed into the liquefier cup is disintegrated or liquefied by an impeller device and directed through a pump for discharge into a conduit. The conduit may be directly connected with a dumping tank, or other receiving vessel, for discharging the liquefied contents from the pumping apparatus. Of course, it will be apparent that there are many anticipated uses for the disintegrator pump and there is no intention to limit the invention to utilization withholding tanks as hereinbefore set forth. For example, there are many applications in the chemical industry or commercial fishing industry wherein the novel pumping apparatus may be utilized.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel pumping apparatus for facilitating disposal of waste products.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dis integrating pump for liquefying fluids containing solid matter in order to facilitate disposal thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a disintegrator pump for receiving Waste materials from a storage tank for facilitating draining of the tank.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel disintegrator pump which is simple and efiicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a paratus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view of a pump ing apparatus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of a pumping apparatus embodying the invention and depicted at a slightly reduced scale.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 6 generally indicates a disintegrator pump apparatus comprising a housing 8 having one end thereof closed by a wall 10 and the opposite end 12 thereof open. A suitable motor 14 is secured within the housing 8 in any well known manner (not shown). The .motor 14 is preferably an electrical type, but not limited. thereto, and an electrical conduit 13 extends outwardly therefrom through an aperture 15 provided in the wall 10 of the housing 8 for connection with a suitable source of electrical power (not shown). A pump housing 16 is secured in any Well known manner (not shown) to the open end 12 of the housing 8 and is provided with a suitable pumping device 18 in the internal chamber 19 thereof. The pump 18 may be of any desired type, and as depicted herein, is of an impeller type wherein rotation thereof in one direction will move a fluid therethrough in one direction and rotation thereof in an opposite direction will reverse the flow of the fluid therethrough. The pump 18 is driven by the motor 14 by means of a drive shaft 20 which extends from the motor 14 to the pump 18 through a central bore or aperture 22 provided in one wall 24 of the pump housing 16. Of course, a suitable hearing or bushing 26 is preferably disposed in the aperture 22 and around the shaft 20 for facilitating the rotation thereof, as is well known. In addition, a suitable sealing member, such as an O-ring or the like (not shown), may be utilized around the shaft 20 for precluding leakage of fluid therearound.

A substantially cylindrical cup member 28 is suitably secured to the pump housing 16 and is oppositely disposed from the motor housing 8. The cup 28 is closed at one end by a wall 30 and the opposite end 32 thereof is open for receiving the product to be liquefied or disintegrated. An impeller 34 is journalled within the cup 28 in the proximity of the wall 30 and is rotated simultaneously with the pump 18 by means of a suitable shaft 36. The shaft 36 extends through an aperture 38 provided in the wall 30 of the cup 28. The impeller preferably comprises a plurality of radially extending arms or blades 35 which rotate within cup 28 for liquefying any solid matter or particles coming into contact therewith. The blades 35 are preferably carried by a central hub member 37 which may be keyed or otherwise secured around the outer extremity of the shaft 36 for rotation thereby. A stud or threaded member 40 and complementary washer 41 may be utilized for removably retaining the impeller 34 in position on the shaft 36, as is well known. Of course, it is preferable to provide a suitable bushing or hearing 42 within the aperture 38 through which the shaft 36 extends for facilitating rotation thereof.

The pump housing 16 is provided with a plurality of radially extending boss members 41 and 43 having ports pumping ap- 44 and 46 extending therethrough to provide communica-,

tion with the interior chamber each boss 41 and 43 be provided 45 and 47, respectively, at the outer extremity thereof for receiving suitable fitting members, such as threaded caps or plug members (not shown) for selectively closing off the ports in accordance with the desired operation of the apparatus 6. For example, in certain installations it may be desirable to utilize only one of the ports, in which event the remaining port, or ports, may be sealed or closed by means of a suitable plug member.

An aperture 48 is provided in the wall 30 of the liquefier up to establish communication between the interior 19. It is preferable that with a threaded portion ber of the apertures 48 may pe spaced in the wall 30 for permitting the flow of fluid from the chamber 50 into the chamber 19.

Operation The disintegrator pump 6 may be directly connected to a holding tank (not shown) or any other suitable storage vessel containing matter which is to be discharged or drained therefrom. In this type of operation, only one discharge port, such as the port 46, is necessary and the port 44 may be plugged or sealed. It is preferable to connect the cup member 28 directly to the dis-charge port (not shown) of the holding tank whereby the open end 32 of the cup receives the substantially solid matter or fluid containing solid matter to be discharged from the tank. The fluid entering the chamber 50 of the cup 28 is thoroughly liquefied by the actionof the rotating impeller 34 in much the same manner as in a blender device. The liquefied contents of the chamber 50 are moved through the port 48 into the interior of the pump housing 16 by the combined actions of the pump 18 and the impeller 34. The pump 18 then moves the liquid stream out of the chamber 19 through the open port 46 and into a suitable conduit 52 (FIGURE 1) or the like which may be secured to the port 46 by means of the threaded connector member 54, as is well known. The conduit or hose 52 may be utilized for directing the discharged liquid contents into a dumping vessel (not shown) or other suitable storage area. It will be apparent that a suitable sealing gasket (not shown) may be utilized with the connector member 54 to preclude leakage of fluid therearound.

It is anticipated that there may be certain installations wherein it is desirable to liquefy a fluid containing substantially solid matter and store the liquefied product for a period of time before discharging thereof in the final dumping area. In this event, it will be necessary to utilize the port 44 in addition to the port 46. A conduit 55, similar to the conduit 52 may be connected to the port 44 by means of a suitable threaded connector member 56. The liquefied product moving from the chamber 50 into the pump housing 16 in this instance will be directed through the port 46 by the pump 18 and through the conduit 52 to a storage vessel. At such a time as it becomes desirable to drain the storage vessel containing the liquefied prod ucts, the action of the pump may be reversed in any well known manner (not shown) whereby the liquefied product is directed back through the port 46 and into the pump chamber 19 and out the port 44 for discharge through the conduit 55 to a dumping vessel, or the like, as hereinbefore set forth. It is to be noted that it may be preferable to provide a suitable check valve device in the port 48 when using the pumping apparatus 6 in this manner to preclude passage of the fluid from the chamber 19 into the chamber 50.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel disintegrator pump apparatus particularly designed and constructed for liquefyin g a fluid stream containing solid matter, and discharging the liquefied product. The novel pumping apparatus may be connected directly with a vessel containing the solid matter for facilitating draining thereof into a final dumping area. In addition, the pumping apparatus may be utilized for liquefying a prod-uct and directing the liquid stream to a relatively temporary storage vessel and subsequently draining the liquid into the final dumping area. The novel pumping apparatus is simple and efiicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A disintegrator pump comprising a power supply, pump housing means having a pumping chamber therein, reversible pumping means disposed within the pumping chamber and operably connected with the power supply for actuation thereby, a pair of spaced ports provided in the pump housing to provide communication between the interior and exterior of the pumping chamber, liquefier means secured to the pump housing and operably connected with the pump means and power supply, said liquefied means provided with a chamber for receiving substantially solid matter therein, said liquefier means operable for liquefying the substantially solid matter, passageway means providing communication between the liquefying chamber and the pumping chamber, and said pump means operable for discharging the liquefied product from the pumping chamber through one of said ports for storage of the liquefied product and operable in an opposite direction for discharging the stored liquefied product through the other of said ports.

2. A disintegrator pump comprising a first housing, a motor disposed within the first housing, a pump housing secured to the first housing and having a pumping chamber therein, reversible pump means disposed within the pumping chamber and actuated by the motor, a pair of ports provided in the pump housing, a liquefying cup secured to the pumping housing and having a liquefying chamber therein for receiving a fluid containing substantially solid matter, impeller means journalled within theliquefying cup and actuated simultaneously with the pump means for liquefying the substantially solid matter, passageway means providing communication between the liquefying chamber and the pump chamber, and said pump means operable in one direction for discharging the liquefied product through the first of said ports and operable in an opposite direction for discharge of the liquefied product through the second of said ports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,421,064 5/1947 Hilliker 146-182 2,714,354 8/1955 Farrand 241101 X 2,718,012 9/1955 Howe 24110l X 2,918,876 12/1959 Howe. 3,155,330 11/1964 Holz et al 241258 FOREIGN PATENTS 584,395 1/1947 Great Britain.

WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner.

W. G. ABERCROMBIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISINTEGRATOR PUMP COMPRISING A POWER SUPPLY, PUMP HOUSING MEANS HAVING A PUMPING CHAMBER THEREIN, REVERSIBLE PUMPING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN THE PUMPING CHAMBER AND OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH THE POWER SUPPLY FOR ACTUATION THEREBY, A PAIR OF SPACED PORTS PROVIDED IN THE PUMP HOUSING TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE PUMPING CHAMBER, LIQUEFIER MEANS SECURED TO THE PUMP HOUSING AND OPERABLY CONNECTED WITH THE PUMP MEANS AND POWER SUPPLY, SAID LIQUEFIED MEANS PROVIDED WITH A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID MATTER THEREIN, SAID LIQUEFIER MEANS OPERABLE OF LIQUEFYING THE SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID MATTER, PASSAGEWAY FOR MEANS PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LIQUEFYING CHAMBER AND THE PUMPING CHAMBER, AND SAID PUMP MEANS OPERABLE FOR DISCHARGING THE LIQUEFIED PRODUCT FROM PUMPING CHAMBER THROUGH ONE OF SAID PORTS FOR STORAGE OF THE LIQUEFIED PORDUCT AND OPERABLE IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR DISCHARGING THE STORED LIQUEFIED PRODUCT THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAID PORTS. 